Enabler cover

ABSTRACT

This enabler cover for use with hand rails on a bed comprises a pad which fits around the rails of the hand rails. The pad, including a cover material, defines an interior space formed of the material. The material is flexible, non-abrasive and substantially resistant to penetration by an appendage of a person. The pad also includes a foam material filling the interior space defined by the cover material. Further, the cover material includes a means for enabling the enabler cover to fit around the rails of the hand rails. A mesh cover then covers any opening in the hand rails.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This invention relates to enabler covers for hospital or nursinghome bed rails.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Hospital beds traditionally had some type of collapsible siderail on each side of the mattress, so that a patient on the bed cannotinadvertently roll off of the bed and receive serious injuries from afall to the floor. Padded covers, bumper wedges and the like also areused with the bed-rails to improve the comfort and safety of patients inlong-term care facilities.

[0003] One recent development is a padded gap protector that provideszero clearance no matter what the articulated position of the bed is.The pad remains in compression with the mattress and closes the gapbetween the mattress and side rails. The pad provides a zero gap whenthe mattress is in a horizontal position and when the mattress issecured in an articulate position such as an elevated position. Thegapless bed rail pads are described in U.S. patent applications Ser. No.60/198,591 filed Apr. 19, 2000, and Ser. No. 09/809,881 filed Mar. 16,2001 both of which are herein incorporated by reference.

[0004] Another need exists for hand rails used with hospital and nursinghome beds. The industry often refers to these hand rails as grab bars,positioning bars and the like.

[0005] The hand rails prevent, to some extent, a resident from fallingout of bed. Internal bed positioning or assistance into and out of bedis the major use. Hand rails typically have a tubular frame which mountsto the bed frame. The hand rails may rotate up to 360° and lock into anumber of positions. The hand rails, however, have an open center withthe tubular frame circumscribing the opening. During operation or in astationary position, a limb or other body part should not extend throughthe opening. As a result, a need remains for improving these hand rails.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] This enabler cover for use with hand rails on a bed comprises apad which fits around the rails of the hand rails. The pad, including acover material, defines an interior space formed of the material. Thematerial is flexible, non-abrasive and substantially resistant topenetration by an appendage of a person. The pad also includes a foammaterial filling the interior space defined by the cover material.Further, the cover material includes a means for enabling the enablercover to fit around the rails of the hand rails. A mesh cover thencovers any opening in the hand rails.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007]FIG. 1 shows the patient side of a first embodiment of an enablercover according to this invention.

[0008]FIG. 2 shows the opposite side of the first embodiment.

[0009]FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of an enabler cover according tothis invention.

[0010]FIG. 4 shows a hand rail, bed, and an enabler cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011]FIG. 1 shows enabler cover 10. Cover 10 secures to hand rails 12of a long term care bed (not shown). Cover 10 includes tubular pad 14and mesh cover 16. In this preferred embodiment, mesh cover 16 enclosesor encapsulates tubular pad 14 and hand rail 12. FIG. 1 shows thepatient side of cover 10. Any fasteners preferably are on the outside ofrail 12 away from the occupant of the bed.

[0012]FIG. 2 shows the outside of cover 10 away from the bed. Fastener18 secures mesh cover to pad 14 and rail 12. Fastener 18 preferably is adraw string, but also may be an adhesive strip or Velcro® strip.Fastener 19 is a draw string, which is another preferred embodiment.

[0013]FIG. 3 shows another preferred embodiment wherein mesh cover 16does not encapsulate tubular pad 14. In this embodiment, mesh cover 16attaches to inside edge 20 of pad 14. Again, fastener 18 secures meshcover 16 to tubular pad 14. Fastener 22 secures tubular pad 14 to handrail 12.

[0014]FIG. 4 shows hand rail 12 on long term care bed 24. Hand rail 12forms annular space 26. Mesh cover 16 covers annular space 26. Fastener18, 19 and fastener 22 are on the outside of rail 12 away from theoccupant of bed 24.

[0015] The pad of this invention uses a foam which may vary widely.Preferably, the foam is a polyurethane foam. The polyurethane likewisevaries widely. Generally, it is a thermoplastic polymer produced by thecondensation reaction of a polyisocyanate and a hydroxyl-containingmaterial, e.g., a polyol derived from propylene oxide ortrichlorobutylene oxide. The basic polymer unit is formed as follows:R₁NHCOOR₂.

[0016] A preferred foam is rubatex ⅜″ wall: fire rated (astme-84 ME; 25flame or less; 50 smoke or less). The foam generally has a densityranging from 0.25 to 2.0 lbs/ft³.

[0017] The cover of the enabler may vary widely. Generally, the cover ismade of a vinyl material. The covers preferably are based onhomopolymers or copolymers of vinyl chloride, for example vinylchloride/vinyl acetate copolymers. The homopolymers and the copolymersare both commonly referred to as PVC resins or PVC polymers.

[0018] Preferably, the covers are flame-resistant and have a low-smokevalue. This usually is accomplished by incorporating a metallic saltsuch as aluminum trihydrate. Typically, the materials should have aflame spread of 25 or less and a smoke value of less than 400 accordingto standard ASTM tests.

[0019] Preferably, the pad is a tubular pad and the means enabling theenabler cover to fit around the rails is an elongated slit. A means forsecuring the elongated slit preferably is an adhesive. Usually, theelongated slit has edges and the adhesive is on the edges.

[0020]FIG. 1 shows the inside left side enabler cover. This side facingthe occupant of the bed is smooth with no securing means facing the bed.The hand rails typically are one inch tubular stell.

[0021]FIG. 2 shows the outside of the left side enabler cover. Adhesivepads secure the comers of the vinyl mesh cover to the pad. A drawstringpulls the vinyl mesh cover to the pad.

[0022] The enabler cover also may include a release paper covering theadhesive and a draw string to secure the pad to the hand rails.

[0023]FIG. 3 shows hand rails where a portion of the rails form anannular space therebetween. The mesh cover will cover the annular space.

[0024] The mesh covering the opening of the hand rails are made of thesame vinyl material. An adhesive also secures the mesh cover to the pad.

[0025] The enabler cover seals away from the bed side of the cover. Thisis true for the elongated adhesive strips, adhesive pads on the meshouter cover and the nylon string ties.

[0026] The enabler cover is made as a right side and left side pair. Themesh covers are not interchangeable. The best protection for theindividual in the bed is to install the mesh cover facing inward. Thereis no need to replace the tubular foam padding for right or left side usof a particular bed rail.

[0027] To install, place the tubular foam padding around the upperportion of the rail. The elongated split in the foam padding should faceinward. Remove the protective adhesive strips from the tubular foampadding. Close the foam padding by attaching the adhesive edges. Thenplace the mesh cover over the rail, with the circular adhesive patchnext to the post side. Next, draw the nylon string tight and tie intothe final position. Tuck the tied bow inside of the mesh cover. The laststep is to adhere the adhesive circular patch as the final step.

[0028] For cleaning, remove the mesh cover from the rail for thoroughcleaning of the cover and padding. A damp cloth or a mild bristle brushshould be used. A mild detergent is recommended for prolong color andstrength of this product.

[0029] The adhesive I use may vary widely. Typically, they are contactadhesives designed for a soft seam bond. Rubatex contact adhesive is onesuch adhesive. It is neoprene based and excellent for bonding rubber,PVC, NBR and other vinyl and rubber like products together. Urethaneadhesives as well as pressure sensitive acrylic adhesives also may beused.

[0030] The following example further illustrate this invention:

EXAMPLE I

[0031] The enabler cover comprises a tubular foam padding which fitsaround the upper portion of the hand rail. An elongated split in thefoam padding preferably face outwardly away from the bed. The elongatedsplit includes adhesive strips protected with release paper. To securethe cover, remove the protective release paper from the tubular foampadding. Close the foam padding by attaching the adhesive edges to eachother. A nylon mesh cover protects the opening in the hand rails. Toinstall, place the mesh cover over the hard rail with the circularadhesive pad next to the post side. A draw string also is included. Drawthe nylon draw string tight and tie into the final position. Next, tuckthe tied bow inside of the mesh cover. Adhere the adhesive circular meshpad as the final step.

EXAMPLE II

[0032] A preferred hand rail is the Arcorail System. See FIG. 4. Thishand rail rotates 360° and locks firmly and safely in four positions. Torotate the hand rail, grip it close to where the center and top railsmeet. Pull up lightly and turn it in either direction to a desired 90°position. To lock the hand rail, lower it. You will feel it dropslightly into the 90° position. Push the hand rail from side to side toensure that it will not move out of position. To exit and enter the bed,rotate hand rail and lock it perpendicular at a right angle to themattress. Sit down on the opposite side of the hand rail furthest fromyour pillow. To sit up or to reposition while in bed, grasp the handrail by the center rail.

[0033] In addition to these embodiments, persons skilled in the art cansee that numerous modifications and changes may be made to the aboveinvention without departing from the intended spirit and scope thereof.

I claim:
 1. An enabler cover for use with hand rails on a bedcomprising: a pad which fits around the rails of the hand rails; the padincluding a cover material defining an interior space formed of amaterial, the material being flexible, non-abrasive and substantiallyresistant to penetration by an appendage of a person; the pad alsoincluding a foam material filling the interior space defined by thecover material; the cover material including a means enabling theenabler cover to fit around the rails of the hand rails; a mesh covercovering any opening in the hand rails.
 2. An enabler pad according toclaim 1 wherein the pad is a tubular pad.
 3. An enabler pad according toclaim 1 wherein means enabling the enabler cover to fit around the railsis an elongated slit.
 4. An enabler pad according to claim 3 including ameans for securing the elongated slit.
 5. An enabler pad according toclaim 4 wherein the means for securing the elongated slit is anadhesive.
 6. An enabler pad according to claim 5 wherein the elongatedslit has edges and the adhesive thereon.
 7. An enabler cover accordingto claim 1 wherein the cover material is a vinyl.
 8. An enabler coveraccording to claim 1 wherein the foam is a urethane foam.
 9. An enablercover according to claim 1 wherein the foam has a density ranging from0.25 to 2.0 lbs/ft³.
 10. An enabler cover according to claim 1 whereinthe mesh cover is a vinyl mesh.
 11. An enabler cover according to claim1 wherein an adhesive secures the mesh cover to the pad.
 12. An enablercover according to claim 5 including release paper covering theadhesive.
 13. An enabler cover according to claim 1 including a drawstring to secure the pad to the hand rails.
 14. An enabler coveraccording to claim 1 wherein the tubular pad circumscribes an annularspace and the mesh cover covers the annular space.
 15. An enabler coveraccording to claim 1 wherein the tubular pad circumscribes an annularspace and the mesh cover encloses the tubular pad and the annular space.16. An enabler cover according to claim 1 wherein the mesh cover isnylon mesh.
 17. Hand rails for use with a hospital or nursing home bedcomprising a plurality of rails and the enabler cover of claim 1covering a portion of the plurality of rails.
 18. Hand rails accordingto claim 17 wherein the portion of the plurality of rails forms anannular space therein between.
 19. Hand rails according to claim 18wherein the mesh cover covers the annular space.
 20. Hand railsaccording to claim 17 wherein any securing or adhesive means are on aside of the enabler cover away from the bed side of the rails.
 21. Handrails according to claim 17 wherein the mesh cover encloses the tubularpad and covers the annular space.